Valve mechanism for engines.



eral sections are bolted together and for this UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMANN LEMP, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

VALVE MECHANISM FOR. ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May ,7, 1907.

Application filed November 4, 1904. S i N 2 113 1 citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, 7

county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valve Mechanisms for Engines, of which the following is a specifica-' tion.

My invention relates to engines and more articularly to valve mechanisms for controling the admission of motive fluid to the cylinder or cylinders. Its'object is to improve the general construction of valve mechan-.

isms so as to render the valve or-valves more accessible for removal and. repair, and to ar-' range the valve s rings so that they are not affected by the eat from the cylinders or other parts. p

' For an understanding of the invention attention is directed to the following description taken in connection. with the accompanying drawing, and its scope will be set forth in the appended claims.

In the accom anying drawing, which illustrates one em odiment of the invention, is shown an engine of the multi-cylinder type, with one half in plan and the other half in longitudinal sectionon the plane of the axis of one cylinder.

I have elected to illustrate my invention as applied to an engine'of the type disclosed in t e United State's-Patent No. 748,083 of Dec. 29, 1903, granted jointly'to me and Otto E-Persson.

The engine is preferably constructed in sections, and referring to the drawing, 1 represents the cylinder section, 2 the cross-head section, 3'the crank or wabbler section, and 4' the section containing the cam or cams for operating the valves. The cylinder section com rises a plurality of parallel piston con tainmg cylinders 5 arranged symmetrically around a common axis, and is preferably, al-

though not necessarily, a'single casting. Thev cross-head section 2 is also a single casting and comprises cylinders 6 which are arranged similarly to the piston containing cylinders and axially aline therewith. The sevpurpose they are provided with circumferential flanges 7 at their ends, which receive the securing bolts 8. The sections may be further secured by side bars 9 which are suitabl bolted to the sections, commonly one at eac 1 side, as shown in the plan portion of view.

Extending centrally through the sections, 1, 2 and 4 and disposed parallel to the axes of the iston cylinders, is a crank shaft 10 whic is mounted in bearings 11 and 12 provided in the cross-head section and the camsection respectively. The pistons 13 reci rocate in a direction parallel to the axis of t e shaft 10 and their-rectilinear motion is translated in rotary motion of the shaft by means of a wabbler 14 or other crank movement. The wabbler is provided with as many arms 15 as there. are pistons, and the latter are each connected with an arm'by means of a iston rod 16, a cross-head 17 and a connecting rod 18. v tory movement from its respective piston, and in order to provide forconstantly'c-hanging angularity between each arm and its re-. spective connecting rod, the latter is connected with its cross-head and'wabbler arm by ball-and-soc-ket joints 1.9. Corresponding oscillations of the arms are successively produced in a directionclockwise or anticlockwise, de ending upon the direction of the order oft e impulse of the pistons. In

Each arm receivesan oscillaother words the pistons impart a universal movement to the wabbler. To providefor this movement-the wabbler is mounted u on a central bearing which is preferably a all 20. This is. carried'by a skeleton shaped frame 21 that is secured to the adjacent end of the cross-head section by bolts '22.

' The movement of the wabbler is changed into continuous'rotation of the crank shaft 10 by means of a crank pin 23 and a crank arm 24. The pin is secured at one end in the hub 25 of the wabbler and its axis is disposed at an angle to-the axis of the crank shaft.

This angle is the same for every position of ler so that the outer end of the pin ,95

the wab describes a circle concentric with the crank shaft. The crank arm 24 is connected with the outer end of the in and is revolved thereby, hence causing t 1e crank shaft to rotate. A sui. able ball and' socket joi'nt 26 is provided-oetweenthe arm and the pin so as to permit the'latter to turn in the arm as they oth revolve together.

Each cylinder is provided. with a clearance space 27 which connects with a chamber 28 for the admission of steam or other motive fluid. The exhaust from'the cylinder discharges through exhaust ports 29 into an annular exhaust chamber 30 which is cored out in the plate 31. cast integral with the crosscrank shaft.

head section. This chamber discharges through the exhaust ipe 32 into the atmosphere, or into a con enser or a mufller according to whether the engine is used as a steam or an explosive en ine.

The parts containing t e admission chambrs 28 are preferably cast inte al with the cylinder secti'on, although this is not necessary, and they are arran ed at ,the heads of the cylinder, rojecting aterally therefrom or overhang t e end of the cylinder section. This latter feature of the construction is important as it provides a space between the chambers and the shaft in which the valve mechanism may. be arran ed'in a very .compact manner. An annu ar steam supply conduit'33 extends around the circumference of the cylinder section and connects with the several admission chambers. This steam suplply conduit is also preferably cast integra with the cylinder section in order to strengthen it and at the same time simplify and c eapen the construction.

Communication between the admission chamber and the clearance space 27 ofeach cylinder, is controlled b. I an outwardly opening'valve 34, which in its simplest form is of the puppet valve type. The stem 35 of the valve extends transversely to theaxis of the cylinder and radially with respect to the 4 The valve stem is guided in a sleeve 36 which is removably secured to the admission chamber and rojects inwardly toward the crank shaft. anged in line with each valve is a removable lug or cap 37 which screws into a threaded opening 38 in the wall of the valve chamber. This plug is rovided with a countersink 39 or its equivacut for receiving a key by which the removal or insertion of the plug may be accomplished.

The o ening 38'is of ample diameter to permit t e puppet valve and the valve stem to thelatter.

sleeve to pass freely through it when being removed or put into place. The end of the sleeve in the admission chamber is provided with an annular shoulder 40 which is carefully finished This end is also counterbored to a certain depth to provide a space around the valve stemthat connects with ports 41 in the sleeve and the passage 42 communicating with the clearance s ace of the piston cylin- .der and throughiwhicli the motive fluid passes The sleeve is firmly secured in positionby means of a'nut 43 which engages an .exteriorly screw threaded portion thereof screws against the inner wallof theadmission chamber, whereby theflange or shoulder 40 at the seat en inthe ad'missionchamber.

At the ends of the valve stems adjacent to the crankshaft are valvetappets45 which are preferably se arate from the stem, the latter being mere y heldin contact therewlth it is desired to remove the valve.

t0 formthe "seat for the valve.

. springs are the valve stems or d of the sleeve is I held firmly in place upon an interiorflange 44 so as to receive motion from them. This arrangement enables the valves to be readily removable without disturbin the tappets. The tappets are arranged in t e cam section 4 and are adapted to receive motion from a cam 46 that is adjustable on the crank shaft to which it is splined. Anti-friction rollers 47 are provided'on the tappets to reduce wear as the ta pets ride over the cam. To vary the-lift o the valves and thereby the point of cut off, the cam'may be adjusted axially by any desired mechanism, such for example, as the cam shipper shown in the patent hereinbefore referred to.-

The cam is common to the valves and acts directly through the .valve stems to open them. The seating of the valves is accom- .plished through individual spring actuated bell crank levers 48. These levers extend in the general direction of the crank shaft, away from the cylinders, and are mounted on a suitable part of the engine, preferably the cam section. Each lever is loosely connected with its respective valve stem in 0rder to be readily detached therefrom when The valve stem is provided with aslot 49 in which the end of one arm of the lever engages. To permit this to be withdrawn from the slot the lever is mounted on a removable pivot as explained hereinafter. The spring 50 for actuating the lever is connected with the free arm thereof so as to be removed as far as practicable from the hot walls of the cylinders and admission chambers, and also to be surrounded by an air space for preventing any considerable degree of heat being radiated or conducted thereto. The springs are of the extension type and eaclnextends from the free end'of its res ective lever to the' adjacent admission c amber Where it is anchored, as by means of an eye bolt 51. The springs are under sufficient tension tomaintain the valves seated during the period when the rotating cam is notacting on them except under conditions of abnormal back When the cam lifts the valves the placed under additional tension by reason of the levers moving with the valves, so that as the .cam moves from under tappets the valves are quickly and positively seated.

The cam section 4 is composed of a cylinpressure drical portion52 and a head 53 whichcar- .ries the shaftbearing 12.

The head is secured in place by bolts 54 which extend through openings in it andin the circumferential flange 55 These bolts afford a simple 'means for fulcruming the springactuated levers for the valves. For this purpose the heads are each provided with a diametrical slot 56 into which extend lugs 57 formed on the levers. The heads and lugs are provided with registering openings for receiving c0t ter pins 58. By this arrangement each lever valve can then be, removed after the valve plug 37 is unscrewed. By unscrewing'the nut 43 the valvestem sleeve may also be removed. Thus itwill' be seen that the construction of the valve mechanism is simple and can be easily taken apart when desired. The diameter of the cam section is much smaller than that of the cylinder section. This permits the valve mechanism to he arranged around the cam section without increasin the overall dimensions of the engine, w le still attaining the various objects aimed at by the invention.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation of my invention together with the apparatus which, I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative, and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,-

1. In, an engine, the combination of a cylinder, an admission chamber conununioating therewith, a valve in said chamber forcOntrolling the admission of motive fluid tov the cylinder, a stem for the valve which extends transversely to the axis of the cylinder,

means which engage the stern for opening the valve, a lever connected with the stem, for closing the valve having a free end extending outwardly from the cylinder, and a spring attached at one end to the free extremity of the lever and supported by a fixed part of the engine structure and the lever.

22. In an engine, the combination of 9. cylinder, an admission chamber communicating therewith, a valve in said chamber for controlling the admission of motive fluid to the cylinder, a stem for the valve 'which extends transversely to the axis of the cylinder, a rotating cam which engagesthe said stem for opening the valve, an inclosure for the cam which is located at the head of the-cylinder, a bell-crank lever fulcrumed on the inclosure and arranged with one arm extendin substantially parallel to the axis of the cy inder I and the other arm extending substantially transverse thereto, a connection between the first arm of the lever and the stem, and a sprin attached to the outer end ofthe transverse y extending arm of the lever and to the cylinder so that its body portion is isolated from the hotparts of the engine to minimize the conduction of heat to it.

316 In arr-engine, thecombination of a cylind er, a valve chamber communicating therewith, a valve therein for controlling the ad' mission of motive fluid to the c linder, a stem for the valve whichis provi ed with a latter.

slot, a lever fulcrumed on the engine and engaging at one end in the said slot, an extension spring attached at one end to the free extremity of the lever and at the other end to the cylinder and having its body isolated from the engine to minimize the conduction of heat thereto, and ameans independent of the lever which opens the valve against the tension of said spring.

4. In an engine, the combination of a cylinder, a valve chamber communicating therewith, a valve therein for controlling the admission of motive fluid to the c linder, a stem for the valve which is-provi ed with a slot at one end and extends transversely to the axis of the cylinder, a'removable plug in the wall of said chamber for permitting the valve to be removed, a lever removably engaging at one end in the slot of the valve stem, a s ring acting upon said lever which is isolated om the cylinder and valve to minimize the conduction of heat thereto, and

means for opening the valve against the tension of said spring.

5. In an engine, the combination of a shaft, a plurality of parallel cylinders, chambers for the cylinders, valves therein for controlling communication between the chambersand cylinders, stems for the valves which are disposed radially to the shaft, a common actuator which engages the stems for opening the valves, bell-crank levers attached to the valve stems, an inclosure for the actuator, pivots for the levers which are arranged around the shaft and in a plane transverse thereto so that the levers move in planes arallel to-the shaft, and extension s rings w ich are directly attached to: the said levers for closing the valves and are located with an open space between them and-the cylinders to minimize the conduction of heat to the 6. In an engine, the combination of a cylinder, a chamber connected therewith, a valve for controlling. communication between the chamber and cylinder, a stem attached to the valve" which is provided with a slot, a sleeve for the stem which is removably secured in position, means engaging the stem for o ening the valve, a spring actuated lever for c osing the valve whichis removabl fulcrumed in such a position that one en projects into the slot of the stem, and a removable cap or plug in the s 'aidchamber for permitting the valveand the valve stem sleeve to be removed.

7. In an engine, the combination of a cylinder, a rotary shaft disposed parallel to the axis thereof, an overhanging admission chamber at the head of the cylinder, a valve therein," a stem for the valve which extends transversely to the axis of the cylinder, means on the shaft for controlling the lift of the valve, 9. bell-crank lever fulcrumed at a point between the shaft and the valve and laterally of the cylinder head, a connection between one arm of the lever and the valve stem, and a spring attached to the other arm of the lever and to the cylinder which acts through the lever to seat the valve.

8. In an engine, the combination of a plurality of parallel cylinders, pistons operating therein, a central shaft extending parallel to the cylinders and receiving rotary motion from the pistons, admission chambers at the heads of the cylinders, a motive fluid su ply conduit common to the admission cham ers, puppet valves in said chambers radially disposed around the shaft, a cam mounted on the shaft for controlling the lift of the valves, an inclosure of the cam which surrounds the shaft and is arranged at the heads of the cylinders, and spring actuated levers connected with the valve stems for seating the valves which are fulcrumed upon said inelosures.

9. In an engine, the combination of a plu inders, meansfor imparting rotary motion to the shaft from the pistons, valves in the admission chambers, an-adjustable cam rotating with the shaft for opening the valves ,levers mounted around the shaft and each being pivoted to move in a plane arallel to the axes of the cylinders and sha t and springs attached to the outer ends of the levers and to the cylinder heads.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 2nd day of November, 1904.

HERMANN LEMP. Witnesses:

JOHN A. MoMANUs, Jr, DUGALD MoK. McKrLLoP. 

